Wednesday, December 17, 2008

That pop I heard when I stumbled (not very gracefully) last night was the crack of a bone. The extreme swelling, pain, and bruising was a good hint that I needed to see the doctor today. So I did. The left side of ankle is broken (fractured fibular). At least the "cast" is this boot thing that I can remove for showers.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Twist'n Hat and Scarf patterns are finally finished. It took awhile to put together the tutorials so that I was happy with it. I think you'll find it was worth the wait.

Hopefully I'm not confusing anyone by offering not only the hat and scarf pattern separately, but for loom knitter's who want both I'm offering the Twist'n Combo at a discount.And since I needed to do a tutorial on decreases (needed for the hat), I put it up as a free download.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

We drove through the holiday lights spectacular this past weekend (at night of course). Wow. It really is spectacular! It's at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park in Midwest City, OK (the soccer fields). If you are local, go. If you're not - enjoy the pictures I took with the cell phone. These are just some of the light displays that are there.

Santa in his sleigh over the world.

Two bears having a snowball fight (the light in the middle is the snowball moving).

Santa and his reindeer

A few displays here. The Christmas tree in the background is huge!The display on the right is a chimney with Santa's feet dangling.

A recent discussion on a Yahoo group about patterns from More Knitting Wheel Fashions made me realize that I'm not as active in groups as maybe I should be. For that I apologize. I'm not intentionally hiding. I just get so immersed in *real life* that I forget to read message boards.

I did try to stay on digest with these groups in the beginning. But there are two groups that generate so much daily email, I couldn't keep up. After a few days of not being able to read the digests, I decided it was pointless to keep trying. So I went to "read online only"; and then I forgot to visit the group. sigh

Anyway, that's my excuse. Good excuse or not, it's honest.

I do manage to check direct email (typically) daily. If you want or need to contact me, email me direct at kathy @ kathynorrisdesigns . com (just remove the spaces). I will respond. Really!!

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Doc really knows what he's talking about when it comes to Boniva. The 2nd dose didn't cause the horrendous side effects from last month. Just a little muscle aches. Go figure.So instead of the terrible weekend I was expecting, we had a great family weekend complete with decorating the Christmas tree.

And playing with the dogs.

Elvis has really grown! He's starting to look like a Dachshund.We also managed to drive through the local park where there is a display of Christmas lights. More about that later complete with pictures.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Doctor called in November after my first bone scan. Bad news. I have osteopenia. Good news, there is medication to reverse the bone loss and prevent osteoporosis. He had me try Bonvia. Well, Sally Field "takes it" so it must be OK, right? The everyday-women that took it and said side effects were terrible must be wrong, right? Yeah, right.

I took the first pill on November 5th. I carefully followed the dosage instructions...take it with 8 oz of water on an empty stomach; do not lay down or lean back nor eat or drink anything else for 1 hour. The first day went fine. No major issues at all! I just knew it would be breeze to take it once a month. Wrong!

I underestimated this pill. The next 4 days were miserable!! Stomach problems that nice people do not blog about. Muscle pain that woke me up in the middle of the night but did ease up with 3 tylenol - yet never really went away so I moved around like my Mother who is 85 yo. Joint stiffness, a general feeling of being sick. And I swore I wouldn't do it again.

Sigh. But doctor reminds me that the instructions say the first dosage is the worse and it should get better with the next. I hope so because I'm giving it a 2nd chance.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Good friend and talented knit designer, Denise Layman, has "Wii" request. Vote for her at the Classy Mommy Site . Just click on the link, look for Denise Layman (Sorka), and vote for her. It only takes a moment of your time and will make her family a "Wii" bit happier this Christmas!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

I do have a variation of this for loom knit...just need to proof the pattern. And you thought all I did for the past 6 months was sell a house, move from California to Oklahoma, and buy a house. (tsk, tsk)

Sunday, November 09, 2008

After being sick for a few days, I feel the need to be lazy. So today's post is a meme brought to you by the letter "B".

A few days ago, Janet did a letter meme. To play, you leave a comment on the blog and ask for a letter. Then you post 10 things you love that start with that letter on your blog. I posted to Janet's blog, asked, and received the letter B.

1. I love to browse bookstores. Used bookstores are my favorite. Such treasure!

2. Which means that books must be my second B love! I consider reading as food for the soul.

3. Beading is another passion of mine. Especially beadweaving.

4. Bamboo yarn! Who knew it would be so soft!? Oh, and bamboo knitting needles. I've had most of mine for about 25 years.

5. Chocolate brownies. The more nuts the better!

6. Buttered popcorn. A big bucket for the family to share at the movies. (I'm getting hungry)

7. Bubble baths. A long soak with a good book after a busy day.

8. Bowling has become a love since we go as a family every Tuesday night. It's a special friends league that has become a joy for us all.

9. Backgammon. Gary taught me to play when we were first dating. He may have married me for my luck with dice.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Over the past 3 weeks, a great deal of "new" has showed up in our lives. A new light fixture in the dining room...

There was a chandelier light there. But I prefer simple.

And a new dining room table/chairs...

The one we had in California needed to be replaced so it didn't make the move. I love the trestle style legs on this one.

We didn't have a den in the house in California so I needed furniture for this room. The sofa showed up...

...but the bookshelves won't be ready to mount to the walls for awhile yet. They are being custom built to cover two side walls and make a turn to the wall where the sofa will be. I've always wanted a room with wall-to-wall bookshelves, and am looking forward to lazy times on this sofa reading.

And most importantly...we have a new member of the family! Meet Elvis...

...a 6 week old Dachshund that my husband fell in love with. He was named by my daughter since he will be her dog. Elvis is adorable and so sweet.

Monday, November 03, 2008

Perhaps the reason I'm so adamant about this right is because I lived 2 1/2 years in a country without democracy (a dictatorship) where it's citizens were afraid to speak out against the leaders. I was in the Air Force at the time. And I realized just what a privilege it is to be able to vote for leaders, as well as to verbally criticize government without fear.

So if you haven't voted yet, tomorrow is the day. Remember this is a privilege of living in a democracy and something to be proud of. You have a say....so say it with a vote!

And if you're wondering....I will vote for McCain. I believe we need experience in the White House...not a good orator.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Absent from blog-dom yet again. I just haven't had enough uninterrupted time to spend on the computer to upload pictures for blog. Too busy with house and settling into community stuff. No wonder really...it's only been 2 months since we closed on the property (yet seems so much longer). So just to let you know I am still trying to blog, here's a quizz-thing...

What Your Taste in Chocolate Says About You

You are sweet, mellow, and easily satisfied.

You don't like anything too intense and dramatic.

Deep down, you're a kid at heart... and you're nostalgic for the past.

You are a whimsical person prone to daydreaming.

Artistic and creative, you're always in the middle of a project.

While you are an inspiration to others, you can come off as flaky.

You love to be the center of attention. You enjoy entertaining your friends.

You feel lost when no one is interested in you... You're too interesting to be ignored.

I am still able to knit a little in the evening while family watches a little TV (love Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs - really missing LOST). OTN: A sample project for Knit Picks and a simple rib stitch scarf for Special Olympics). On the loom - nada, nothing as I just finished another pattern for upcoming issue of LKC...but I'm planning a project! ;-)

Sunday, October 19, 2008

The Special Olympics need scarves for their participants. The goal is 5,000 scarves by January for the 2009 Special Olympics. This link gives further information including the pattern for both knitted and crocheted scarves.

As a parent of a young adult with developmental disabilities, I know this is a worthwhile cause. Can you help?

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Opal Harry Potter sock yarn? I managed to catch the email from Allison at Simply Socks Yarn Co early enough to score a skein of color 2355-Harry. I know, I know...what's the big deal. But knitter's who are addicted to Harry Potter and knitting socks understand.

I wanted to buy more, but (confession) the release of the yarn came on the heels (pun intended) of unpacking sock yarn and swearing I wouldn't buy another skein until knitting what I have. Silly me. ;-P

A month after closing on the house and we're still settling in. With most of the unpacking completed, we're doing the mundane things...like registering cars, new drivers license, bank accounts, doctors, etc. I had forgotten how time consuming this kind of stuff can be.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Good news! We have only about 50 book size boxes left to unpack! About half are actually books and will have to wait until we have bookshelves put into the den. We've contacted a contractor/carpenter/crafts person (whatever he's called) and will have a quote tomorrow. Hopefully it's not out of our budget as I'd love to have the books out.

The remaining boxes are supplies from my studio. Beads, clay, and (of course) yarn. I'm trying to put together the studio but no longer have my built-ins from the house in California. It's going to take a lot of creativity to store supplies. But I have found the sweater I was working on right before the move. So I'm knitting something other then dishcloths now. More about that later.

Speaking of budgets...We still need to have a storm shelter put in. That was my one requirement for a move to Oklahoma as I'm in the category of people that are frightened of tornadoes. Earthquake? Been there, done that. And while it's not fun, it's usually over with by the time your brain thinks "an earthquake." Tornadoes seem to go on forever. Luckily the local folks say we won't need it until May (THE season).

Nature is abundant in the little neighborhood we live in. As a matter of fact, woods border our backyard fence. I've spotted deer in a neighbor's yard and some type of hawk sitting on our fence. And this morning I woke up when I heard noises. At first I blamed it on the dogs. Nope, they were snoozing still. So I followed the sound to the office, which has 3 skylights. I looked up and there were 2 blackbirds - huge! - pecking at the skylights with a screw. Trying to get in? Who knows. Silly birds.

Issues (aka "pains in behind") were abundant on Friday and Saturday. Can't find a waterbed heater and had to buy a new one. Dryer was busted and had to buy a new one. Loveseat has a huge oil stain and a broken leg. I shudder to think of what awaits me in the approximately 400 boxes...broken china? dang

On today's agenda? Must buy food. I have to find a grocery store other then Super Walmart. I hate buying food there...ugh. And hopefully get the kitchen in some working order.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Did you notice I've been away? A little over two weeks ago, a thunderstorm moved through Oklahoma City. What a welcome to Oklahoma show it was! I had forgotten what real thunderstorms were like.

One of the lightening strikes was close enough to shake the motor home and it took out some piece of equipment that downed the RV park's wifi. So for two weeks we've been without internet connection except when I could find a wifi hot spot (not as easy here as it was in Southern California).

We close on the house today and move in next week after household goods are delivered.

Monday, August 11, 2008

...as Captain Jack Sparrow would say. If all goes as planned, we should close on this house......no later then August 29th. See the RV barn in the picture (next to the garage)? It was what sold us on the house. We need a place to park our motor home. Of course, the fact that it has a pool......won't hurt. It would appear our quest for the right property is at an end, and we can begin to make our home in Oklahoma.

Friday, August 08, 2008

We've put an offer in on a house and are waiting for sellers to respond. (Hey Denise...it has a salt water pool!) I would add a link for you to look at pictures but I don't want to jinx it. Once we hear if they've accepted, I'll show you. ;-)

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Oklahoma residents...that's us. We arrived yesterday, and have settled into the Twin Fountains RV Park in Oklahoma City until we close on a new property.

Tomorrow we meet our real estate agent, and look at 3 properties we've found online. This one in Mustang, this one in Choctaw, and this one in Harrah. My personal favorite (DD loves it too) is the house in Harrah but the formal living room looks like it's a narrow room. I hope the picture is just a lousy shot of the room. Or that it's possible to make it work with creative furniture arrangement. DH favors the property in Mustang since the rooms are huge.

Do you remember my post about buying yarn for the move? Well, I finally got my hands on the box earlier this week. The post office evidently decided to hold my box from Knit Picks hostage until I rescued it. They didn't bother to send a ransom note though. I had to call to find it. Makes me wonder if someone at the local station knits and knows just what goodies a Knit Picks box can hold.

Only a 4 days left before packers and movers arrive. Oh joy! Three fun filled days of watching our possessions being disassembled, wrapped, boxed, and carted away.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

The move has picked up speed. We have dates! At last!! I have a ka-zillion things to remember to do between now and the 21st when the packers arrive. And I've made lists, and more lists.

The house is in shambles as we sort through the drawers, closets and book shelves. I've made enough trips to Goodwill lately that they seem to know me by name. And I have more ready to take over. It's amazing what you hold onto "just in case."

Escrow is in full swing as we fill out yet more paperwork. Selling a house can make you as crazy. I just keep reminding myself of how lucky we are to have sold it in today's horrible market. (Taking a moment to feel lucky.) Just think! I get to be THE BUYER next month. hehe

And through it all, I'm finding a small amount of time to design and knit. About two weeks ago, I had an inspiration. I charted and swatched. Then pulled out paper and drew the design complete with the math. Last weekend I had a chance to start knitting, and have managed to knit about 2 inches. Not a lot but considering everything else going on, that's dang good! I'd post a couple of pictures but I can't find the camera. Ah well....

Thursday, June 26, 2008

2. Fall is my favorite season because leaves turn such beautiful colors!My favorite season use to be Spring when the plants are blooming. But our family has had rotten luck for the past three Springs. I'm seriously tempted to hibernate during next Spring. Stay tuned.

5. First impressions are not always accurate...except for liver. My first impression was YUCK! and that has never changed.

6. The best piece of advice I ever received was from a good friend who said "you have to meet this guy." I did. And we've been married for over 26 years.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to celebrating DD's birthday, tomorrow my plans include torturing giving the dogs a bath and Sunday, I want to finishing purging the filing cabinets and shredding old paperwork (getting ready for the move)!